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What do you want to accomplish today?

A new intern recently asked me if he should negotiate his salary when offered a job even if he has no professional experience. OF COURSE! YES! Even if you have zero experience, you should always discuss your salary with your potential employer. Not having experience doesn't mean we don't have to pay the bills, so we should always ask for what we deserve and never work for free. I am not particularly an expert in this field, but I put together a little list based on my and other's experiences.

1. Know your skillsIf you get to the point of negotiating salary, they probably already want to hire you. Before knowing what you are worth, you need to know why they want you. As an intern, do you have better computer skills than other candidates? Do they have to send you to training? They probably already have an idea of what they want to pay you, so knowing how beneficial you are to a firm will help you figure out what they might offer you.

2. Research!Always research what the salary range is in your city for your job title. A lot of websites likeglassdoor.com have salary information that you could use to compare similar firms in the same area. Ask your friends if they have worked in the same firm or other similar firms. Your archie friends are not only great to party with, but are also great sources to your job search.

3. Never say "I don't know"When I first started interviewing for my first job, I was very very bad at negotiating. Whenever they asked me what my salary requirement was, I would never give a definite answer and just said I was not sure since I was new. That was totally a BAD idea. It showed that I wasn't prepared enough to know what I am worth, and that I really had no experience in this industry. Plus, I always feel terrible about it afterwards.

4. Give a range or a number?After a while, I got more comfortable at interviews (it really does take practice), so I would give a range of what I think my salary should be. Just make sure that you will be comfortable with the lowest range you give, in case they really do give you the lowest offer. For my second job, I finally was confident enough to give a definite number. In general, a 15-30% increase from your old job is the norm. I gave a ridiculously high salary requirement as an intern (30%), but the firm was willing to negotiate with me to 20%, which is what I actually wanted. But always remember to take benefits into consideration. Sometimes a day off to go travel or rest worth more than a few more dollars!

5. SmileTo me, this is the magic factor. Negotiation is never a pleasant thing to do. Especially if it's face to face, smiling can help show your confidence, and make both you and your employer more comfortable during the process. And always remember to SMILE even if you are unhappy with what they offered. You can decline the offer, but in a professional and pleasant way.

After talking to many interns like us and other experienced professionals, I have found out that it's more important if you like doing what you do at a place that you like. But NEVER WORK FOR FREE!

What other tips do you have for the new interns? Have you negotiated your salary for your first job?